Kyland

You guys. Seriously. You just need to whip out your credit cards and buy this book. Immediately.

Kyland - Mia Sheridan

A full-length, standalone romance from the New York Timesbestselling author of Archer's Voice.

Dirt poor. Hillbilly. Backwoods hick. Mountain folk. 

Tenleigh Falyn struggles each day to survive in a small, poverty-stricken, coal mining town where she lives with her sister and mentally ill mother. Her dream of winning the college scholarship given to one student by the local coal company and escaping the harshness of her life, keeps her going.

Kyland Barrett lives in the hills, too, and has worked tirelessly—through near starvation, through deep loneliness, against all odds—to win the Tyton Coal Scholarship and leave the town that is full of so much pain.

They're both determined not to form any attachments, but one moment changes everything. What happens when only one person gets to win? When only one person gets to leave? And what happens to the one left behind?

Kyland is a story of desperation and hope, loss and sacrifice, pain and forgiveness, but ultimately, a story of deep and unending love.

I received this book in my July subscription of The Bookworm Box. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to think because it's about a hillbilly and honestly, not the first thing you think of when you think amazing romance novel. Yet Mia Sheridan gives you just that- an amazing romance novel with hillbillies. I can't even say I ever thought that was possible. 

Immediately, I was hooked. The story starts off with Tenleigh, a 17 year old girl in the mountains of Kentucky who just keeps her head down, tries to do well in school so she can win a scholarship and get the hell out as soon as possible. At home she lives with her older sister who has sworn off relationships and their mama, who clearly has a slew of mental health disorders that leaves her unable to care for herself, let alone her daughters. She believes one of the richer men in town (who owns the mine, which is the main job for folks) really loves her and is going to come for her. Her daughters know better, their mama is just a good time for this guy and it's embarrassing as hell. But they are legit poor yet they do what they can every day. 

They aren't as poor as Kyland though. Kyland lost his father and brother in a tragic mine accident and everyone believes he lives with his mother who isn't able to leave the house. We learn better though, but Kyland is really poor. He also is trying to win the scholarship to get the hell out of Dennville, Kentucky and he needs no distractions. 

Until a fateful encounter with Tenleigh at the store she works in basically has them crossing paths. Almost immediately, through their determination to do better and get out, but also through all of the things they have in common, they form a bond which Tenleigh clings to and Kyland doesn't want. He doesn't want anything to hold  him to Dennville, no matter what. 

I want to talk about what happens with the scholarship, Kyland's family life, the choices each one of them make without talking to the other and how the story ends. I want to, so badly, but I can't because it will absolutely ruin it all for you. And this book? At only 263 pages is easily one of the best romance novels I have ever read. It's not cheesy. It's sweet, it's sad, it's endearing, and it's selfless. I absolutely loved it, finished this book in a day. I could not put it down because I just so badly wanted both of them to get out of the hell they were born into. Absolutely loved it. 

You can find this book on Barnes & Noble as well as Amazon. Excuse me while I dig for a credit card to buy everything by Mia Sheridan because I am obsessed with her books after this one. Happy reading, lambs! 

Dark Screams, Volume 4

Now, I know it says volume four, but you don't have to read the other volumes. This acts as a stand alone, and it you like scary, horror, and are not an absolute wussy like me, then you will absolutely love this book!

Dark Screams, volume 4

Clive Barker, Heather Graham, Lisa Morton, Ray Garton, and Ed Gorman lead readers down a twisted labyrinth of terror, horror, and suspense inDark Screams: Volume Four, from Brian James Freeman and Richard Chizmar of the revered Cemetery Dance Publications.
 
THE DEPARTED by Clive Barker
On All Hallows’ Eve, a dead and disembodied mother yearns to touch her young son one last time. But will making contact destroy them both?
 
CREATURE FEATURE by Heather Graham
What could be better publicity for a horror convention than an honest-to-goodness curse? It’s only after lights out that the hype—and the Jack the Ripper mannequin—starts to feel a little too real.
 
THE NEW WAR by Lisa Morton
Mike Carson is a war hero and a decorated vet. He doesn’t deserve to be trapped in a hospital with some black thing sitting on his chest as patients die all around him. His only hope is to take out the nurse—before it’s his turn.
 
SAMMY COMES HOME by Ray Garton
It’s what every family prays for: a lost pet returning home. But when Sammy, the Hale family sheepdog, appears on their doorstep, he brings back something no parent would ever wish upon his or her child.
 
THE BRASHER GIRL by Ed GormanCindy Marie Brasher is the prettiest girl in the Valley, and Spence just has to have her. Unfortunately, Cindy has a “friend” . . . a friend who tells her to do things . . . bad things. 

I will tell you that the only reason I signed up for this book tour was for Heather Graham. I have read a few of her books, some for review and some for fun, and I really enjoy her writing. It's always fast pace and before I know it, I've finished the book and want more. The other thing I really liked about this was I got small snippets of some other really great authors and two I was really loving the most were Clive Barker and Lisa Morton. I liked them all quite a bit, but if I had to pick two authors from here that I would buy more books of right away? It would be them. Generally, I'm not a huge fan of short stories but I do like them to try out new to me authors without the commitment.

I will say though, that The Departed is the least scary of the bunch, which is maybe why it's first. I felt kind of OK after I read that though it's kind of a sad, but scary, story. Perhaps not the best selection to read as I'm rocking baby Penelope to sleep. Creature Feature actually takes some characters from Heather's previous books and plays with them more here. If you've read some of her other books it's a nice visit with old friends really, but you don't need to read her previous stories to enjoy this one. You'll be just fine picking up here. The New War also wasn't super scary, I was OK after that one, too. Loved the ending, It was the ending alone that made me want to read more from her. Also, the entire time I was reading this I kept thinking back on my days working with seniors and honestly, anyone who breaks a hip basically dies within a year. Statistically, from my experience, that's what I honestly believe. So while reading this I'm thinking, oh lord- this guy is a total goner. But it was a good story, a good scary nursing home story. Sammy Comes Home if you are an animal lover... this one might be tough for you to read. It's basically about animals returning home with "passengers". Honestly, it was kind of creepy and no joke, I was almost to the end of this one and my dog started barking and jumped on me as if I was being attacked and he was going to save me. Scared the crap out of me. The Basher Girl was maybe my least favorite of all of them only because I didn't feel really satisfied at the end. This one maybe could have been a great full length novel and a short story form didn't do it justice.

Dark Screams is available at Amazon now, so if you are looking for a fun, kind of scary/weird read for this fall? This would be an excellent choice!

There is a giveaway for this short story series that you can participate in as well!

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Bringing Delaney Home - Cover Reveal!

Title: Bringing Delaney Home

Author: Lee Kilraine

Publisher: Lyrical Shine

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: Kindle

In the sleepy town of Climax, North Carolina, all five Cates brothers are known for being tall, dark, and delicious. But each has his own incomparable love story . . . 

Quinn Cates has known Delaney Lyons forever. But after years away from home, Delaney’s a changed woman. A mysterious accident she refuses to talk about has left her hurting—in body and soul—and acting out in dangerous, and occasionally entertaining, ways.

 Quinn’s on the local police force, so he’s used to dealing with troublemakers. This one’s pretty incorrigible—but he suspects her flippant exterior is hiding something softer and deeper inside. Every time he has to rescue Delaney from herself, his heart and his hormones both go into overdrive. But he owes it to Delaney’s sister to keep an eye on her. He’s got some experience with that after spending so much time at it back in high school . . .

 Delaney just wants to fend off the gossips, fight off the pain of her past, and make her escape once again. But Officer Cates is ordering her not to leave town, and his interrogation techniques can be very persuasive . . .

PRE-ORDER INFORMATION

Bringing Delaney Home is available for pre-order at  

Lee Kilraine lives in the pine woods of North Carolina. When she isn't typing away on her computer with her golden retriever, Harley, destroying something at her feet, she's probably sitting on her front porch swing coffee drinking, puppy watching, plot wrangling, book reading, rain listening, storm watching or firefly gazing.

It's also a great spot to catch up with one of the kids or share a glass of wine with the Alpha-dude. Lee is a 2014 Golden Heart® Finalist. She loves writing and reading stories with a HEA and if they make her laugh...well, that's perfect.

For More Information

Visit Lee's website

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Bookworm Box #2

So remember how last month was my first month with The Bookworm Box subscription? If you missed that, you can see what I got in that box HERE. I'll be honest when I tell you I have only read one of the books out that box, and that was a book by Elle Kennedy called The Deal. I absolutely loved that book, so much so that I bought the second one in that series and two others by her. The books alone are what got me to go for a second box because to be honest, the swag was kind of lame. I wasn't sure what to expect with this box, but this is what I got: 

First up, this box came faster than last month. I'm assuming it's because they've changed their shipping vendor, and it's a nice surprise to get my July box in July.

Here are the contents of the box: two signed books, a notepad, a ridiculous key chain, a pen, and a bunch of bookmarks and postcards.

Now, let's talk about author swag.  If it's not something I can actually use, it's a waste of time. What am I going to do with postcards? Bookmarks? I get that. Pens and notepads? Yes, please. Postcards? No. Stupid. If you are an author and are going to do "swag", I highly suggest you visit companies who actually do giveaway items to see the whole world of cool items you can put your information onto. Stop wasting your money on postcards. Seriously.

The books... OK. Well, I have started Kyland, and I'm only 30 pages in and totally hooked. This one shows some real promise. The other one.. about a circus fire eater? I don't know. It's certainly not one I would pick up in a bookstore, but I've been wrong on that end before as well so I'm cautiously optimistic. 

 You'll notice I saved the "keychain" for last. I'm 99% sure this thing is homemade. One, because I own a lettering stamp set similar to the one that was used and two...

it is literally a piece of cardboard cut. No, I'm not kidding. It is actually cut from what I believe to be a moving box, hand stamped, a hole punched and a key ring attached. Now, I love home made things. I really do. I make home made things all of the time, but this is kind of ridiculous. You can't use this. This thing would fall apart within a day of being handled. 

I'm kind of torn, you guys. On one hand, I am enjoying reading these books that otherwise might not land on my radar. On the other, for $48 a month (it went down $4 because they change how they ship), I'm wondering if this is worth it. At least with Lit-Cube, they are getting some pretty awesome swag and it's less per month. Then I think, all of the money I pay for The Bookworm Box is going to charity and then I feel torn. But hell if I'm not excited to get a box in the mail every month! 

Are any of you subscribed to The Bookworm Box? If so, are you enjoying it? Do you know others who are subscribed? What are they thinking? 

A Stone in the Sea

You guys. I do hope when I tell you to whip out your credit card and purchase a book right-stinking-now you are doing it. Otherwise I don't know if we can continue being friends.

A Stone in the Sea - A. L. Jackson

He wanted nothing at all… 

Until he found she had everything to give… 

Sunder lead singer and guitarist Sebastian Stone has everything—fans, fame, and fortune. He also has a heart full of bitterness and a reputation for a short-fused temper. But an outward reputation rarely reveals the true man inside. Facing assault charges after trying to protect his younger brother, Sebastian is sent to Savannah, Georgia to lie low until the dust settles in L.A. 

Shea Bentley is beautiful, kind, and hiding from the very lifestyle Sebastian has always embraced. 

When the mysterious, tattooed stranger begins hanging out at the bar where she works, Shea is quick to recognize he is nothing but trouble, but she's helpless to the way her body lights up every time his intense gray eyes tangle with hers. 

They both soon find themselves drowning in a sea of desire and passion that won’t let them up for air. 

Sebastian knows firsthand secrets never die, and he’s not the only one who’s hiding them. 

Loving someone always comes with a price. But will it be Shea’s past that costs them everything? 

First and foremost, this was one of two books I received in my very first Bookworm Box monthly subscription and with all of the review books I have, it took me longer than I would have liked to read and review this for you. Secondly, I think Jay Crownover can just step aside because her attempt at writing a solid new adult romance novel with a musician bad boy is absolutely pathetic compared to A. L. Jackson. 

Yeah, I said it. I SAID IT. Come at me, Crownover groupies! 

OK. Lemme just pull myself together and get back to the review and tuck the crazy flag away. 

In this book we have Sebastian, who goes by Baz, and he's the lead singer and guitarist for a heavy rock band called Sunder. Poor Baz though, tortured handsome soul that he is, finds himself constantly in a rage, and subsequently in trouble with the law, gets himself put into a little time out. Him and the band get sent to Savannah, Georgia where Baz finds himself bored, contemplating life, unsure of how to help the band or his little brother, dealing with tragic losses, and then he sees the woman of his dreams: Shea. 

Now Shea is a single mother, slinging it in a southern bar, all long legs and bouncy blond hair. Then she sees easily the hottest guy she's ever seen that practically screams "run far, far away" and you know what she does: she asks what he's drinking. 

Begin fireworks, red flags, and sexual tension, folks. 

Baz and Shea ebb and flow for awhile like a tide (you see what I did there, right?). Shea knows he's probably going to hurt her and she's throwing caution to the wind because it feels right. Baz wants her desperately but he's basically convinced he's not a good person and that he doesn't deserve to be happy. So as much as they try to fight it and stay away, neither can really do that. 

The book absolutely ends in a cliffhanger, so just know that going in. The second book, Drowning to Breathe, is coming soon so maybe wait until you can get that one at the same time. I've heard there is maybe a third, and eep... that makes me excited. You can buy A Stone in the Sea at Barnes & Noble and Amazon, of course. 

You can be a stalker, er... fan, of A. L. Jackson and find her on Facebook or on her website. 

As much as a certain someone wants to make fun of my Bookworm Box subscription, I have to say... the books in both of the boxes I've gotten are pretty damn solid so far. Can't wait to see what next month brings! 

Thrill Me

Oh lambs, I don't mean than in a creepy sexual way, but it's actually the title of a really fun romance novel coming out this month that you need to add to your online shopping carts, folks.

Thrill Me - Susan Mallery (Fool's Gold #18)

Maya Farlow learned the hard way to depend only on herself, so when she fell too deeply for the bad-boy charms of Del Mitchell, she did the only thing she could—she ran. Stunned, Del left Fool's Gold to make his name and fortune in extreme sports. 

Now ten years later, Maya's been hired to promote her hometown's new slogan, The Destination for Romance. The celebrity spokesman is none other than Del, the man she dumped but never forgot. Awkward! 

Although Del's not the type to hold a grudge, he's determined to avoid falling a second time for the woman who broke his heart. He's a daredevil, not an idiot. Trouble is, in all his adventures, he never found a rush as exhilarating as Maya's kiss. Maybe risking his heart will prove to be the biggest thrill of all…

Loved this. I will confess to this being my first book in this series and it's totally fine because at no point did I feel like I missed out on any back story. In fact, it makes me more anxious to go back and read the earlier books in this series because there are some couple's that I think I will have enjoyed their story quite a bit. But this book focuses on Maya and Del. 

Maya and Del used to be high school sweethearts, they fell in love and hard. Del asked her to marry him and like any good young adult who had horrible examples of relationships growing up, she freaked out and ran. Broke Del's heart and she didn't recover either. Fast forward ten years and they both find themselves back in Fool's Gold and the attraction is still there. Maya quickly realizes that she is still in love with Del but she's not sure he feels the same. After all, after his dad's birthday party he has plans to up and leave and continue traveling the world. Del is absolutely sure Maya doesn't have any kind of romantic feelings for him so he's quietly planning his escape from the town that's too small for his big adventures. Throw in some family drama, a family illness, family secrets and you have a really great romance novel. It's literally everything you want in a fun, light romance novel. Susan Mallery continues to knock them out of the ball park because she's just that good. 

And can I confess I really want a story with the two older randy women, Eddie and Gladys. I feel like them finding love in a future book might be the best thing ever. I'm just putting that out there, Susan. Overall? 4/5 stars, easily. I loved all of the characters, I loved the setting, and I loved the story. If you are a fan of Dorothea Benton Frank, you'll be a fan of Susan Mallery because they are right up there together as far as skill at crafting a great story in a little southern town you absolutely want to visit and/or move to. 

You can connect with Susan on Twitter, Facebook and of course, her website. Thrill Me is available on Amazon as well as Barnes & Noble. 

Try It Sunday: The saddest little summer salad you ever did see.

I feel like I have to start this off by telling you I'm not actually a bad cook and I'm usually far more prepared than I was when I set out to make this salad for Matt.

This isn't actually a "recipe" per say, it's more of a "dump what I have and call it good" salad because that's essentially what I do. 

Ingredients:

- a meat (I'm using diced ham here, but I usually use tuna because that's what Matt prefers)

- a pasta of your choice (I usually use rings or elbow macaroni, but this week I had bow ties)

- mayo

- mustard

- onion 

- carrots (I didn't have any. Whoops!)

- peas

- Ranch dressing

- some kind of shredded cheese (totally optional, and I'm only using it because I used ham)

Now, I consulted Edward before I decided to cook and he assured me that I did indeed have peas. 

It turns out Edward was wrong. But I found these and I thought maybe I could make these work. Except then I realized, I had no recollection of buying these. Where did these come from? Oh yes, they were from my brother's freezer from when he moved. Over a year ago. 

Turns out, things can go bad in a freezer so these weren't smelling great as I cooked them and they looked vaguely like spinach. So I threw them out and went with plan B. Just wait till you see what that was. 

Anyways.  

So while I was chastising Edward over his absolute screw up, I got everything else ready. My pasta was cooked, I chopped my onion, I got everything all ready while my veggies cooked and then cooled.

Yeah that's right, I went with mixed vegetables. Don't judge, people, don't judge. It's what I had and I wasn't trying to run to the store for peas only. But it also solved my carrot problem so really, this was a win.

Dump everything into your bowl and mix. There aren't any measurements on the mayo, mustard, or dressing because it's kind of to your taste.

Matt likes it so it isn't goopy, but you can still taste all of the different things in it. I don't eat any of this because I hate basically everything in this aside from the noodles and cheese.

Edward was feeling pleased because somehow, I was able to not make this ridiculously ghetto. Matt ate the entire huge container for breakfast at work because he is gross and weird.